We had one full day in Memphis before we had to keep on keepin' on to the west. After a very solemn and moving experience at the National Civil Rights Museum in the AM, our family visited Sun Studios to catch the 3 PM tour. Mrs. Picante is a huge Buddy Holly fan-- we've been to Lubbock, TX to see his grave, she's got the ring tone on the phone... yeah, I like the music, but I don't get it either. Still, we both grew up in homes where the music of Johnny Cash, Elvis, Roy Orbison, and a hundred other artists was a part of daily life, so being here in Sun Studios where so many of those folks recorded was nothing short of pilgrimage. The tour guide was equally obsessed with music and music history, and that's what you want in a tour guide at a place like this! The walls were covered with all sorts of albums, photos, and memorabilia. As the tour progressed through the building, we visited a couple of different rooms with lots of artifacts about the history of Sun Studios. The last stop on the tour was the recording studio and booth where dozens of world famous musicians got their start. Throughout the tour, the guide played clips of different musicians connected to Sun Studios, including several rare tracks I had never heard before. Fun stuff. On the way out, we bought a couple of t shirts and a sticker for the camper. I enjoyed the tour, the photo ops of the kids, and seeing all the famous guitars just sitting there in the studio on the racks. For me, seeing it once was enough for a lifetime, but if you like that good old timey music, or if you really liked the movie Walk the Line, this is definitely worth 90 minutes of your time. read more

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This tour was so much fun and so informative! You can't make reservations, instead it's first come first served and tours run every hour at the bottom of the hour. Everyone working there yesterday was super friendly and welcoming. They have a lot of cool souvenirs and shirts and sell coffees and juices. Kids under 5 aren't allowed on tours but they're very accommodating- my husband did the first half of the tour and I stayed with our son then we switched so we were both able to do some. read more

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Super cool home of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ike Turner, Howling Wolf and Carl Perkins. A lot of great t-shirts @ $22 each. Buy 3 get a fourth free. read more

Great tour. $15. Tickets not ordered ahead you buy them day of. So worth the time to go. Original recordings. Great tour guide. Nice cold sodas. Great piece of history. Still a live recording studio at nights! read more

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If it's your first visit to Memphis, the Sun Studio tour will not disappoint! From the beautiful older building to the original recording room, it's a place frozen in time. Our guide Graham used audio & visual to make history fun. Hope to be back soon! read more

If these walls could talk, right? History everywhere. What a difference from approaching Graceland. Smaller space for sure, but the history is everywhere here. Very close and approachable exhibits, tour guide was very knowledgeable. Gift store was easily accessible. Can be done in an hour, not recommended for those in a wheelchair, stairs going upstairs and back down stairs. Still a great slice of Americana. read more

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A must see if you love music. The history behind Sun Studio is amazing. Special shoutout to Josh, for making our tour unforgettable. Great to see people who love their job. Thank You. read more

Forget Graceland. This is where you should go. The guided tour takes about 45 minutes and it's fast-paced and very entertaining. They also incorporate a lot of musical audio clips during the tour. The highlight, of course, is being in the actual studio where Elvis, Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Cash and other legends once recorded. Plus, you get to hold one of the mics they (supposedly) used. It's a drag you can't reserve online a tour time slot ahead of time. But I think if you show up, you'll either get on the very next tour or the one just after that. This is a must do when in Memphis. read more

Sun Studio - The legendary studio. - Museums Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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I've lived in the mid south my entire life and was sooo glad to have some free time to make it here. Was a short, sweet, and simple tour. Would highly recommend!! In January 1950, WREC radio engineer Sam Phillips opened the Memphis Recording Service with his assistant/friend, Marion Keisker. Phillips' slogan for his studio was "We Record Anything, Anywhere, Anytime." In June 1950, Phillips and a friend set up their own record label called Phillips Records. The purpose of the label was to record "negro artists of the South." The label failed to make an impact and folded after just one release; "Boogie in the Park" by Joe Hill Louis. Phillips began working closely with other labels. It was during this time that Phillips recorded what many consider to be the first rock and roll song, "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats. In early 1952, Phillips once again launched his own record label, this time calling it Sun Records. During his 1st year, he recorded several artists who would go on to have successful careers like B.B. King, Joe Hill Louis, Rufus Thomas, and Howlin' Wolf. Rufus Thomas' "Bearcat", a recording that was similar to "Hound Dog", was the first real hit for Sun in 1953; however, a copyright-infringement suit ensued and nearly bankrupted Phillips. Despite this, Phillips was able to keep his business afloat by recording several other acts, including the Prisonaires, a black quartet who were given permission to leave prison in June 1953 to record their single, "Just Walkin' in the Rain", later a hit for Johnnie Ray in 1956. A few biographers have said that an article about this influenced Elvis Presley to seek out Sun to record a demo record. Elvis was 18 1/2 when he walked into Sun. Asked by receptionist Marion Keisker what kind of singer he was, Presley responded, "I sing all kinds." When she pressed him on whom he sounded like, he repeatedly answered, "I don't sound like nobody." On July 5, a session with him almost proved unfruitful until late in the night. As they were about to give up and go home, Presley took his guitar and launched into a 1949 blues number, Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right". Phillips quickly began taping; this was the sound he had been looking for. 3 days later, popular Memphis DJ Dewey Phillips played "That's All Right" on his 'Red, Hot, and Blue' show. Listeners began phoning in, eager to find out who the singer was. The interest was such that Phillips played the record repeatedly during the last 2 hours of his show. read more

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What a fabulous tour! Our guide, Graham, was terrific! He was knowledgeable, spoke loud for all to hear and answered all of our questions. We started upstairs with the how it's done tour and ended downstairs in the room where it all happens. As we walked in, Graham was playing on the piano and got us all in the mood to hear the wonderful music recorded here so long ago! This was my favorite piece of Memphis! To stand in the exact spot where Elvis stood and be in a room of such talent was overwhelming! I was brought to tears hearing the original audio while on our tour. We were on a city tour which included Sun Studio. I think this is the best way to tour it. I recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time. This is an iconic tour and sells out fast. Don't forget to tip your tour guides! read more

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The tour and guide were great. As soon as we walk in stuffy and crowded. The male hipster with the hat, black glasses and a bag attached to his chest was very rude. Asked for payment as soon as we walked in not a welcome not a hello, not where are you from like every other business we have been to in Memphis . read more

Sun Studio - On the sidewalk - Museums Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Jerry Lee Lewis cruises by Sun Studio in Great Balls of Fire and gives a head nod. That was my vision of Sun Studios before last week. Now I have walked through the studio and touched the microphone so many hit makers have used. The tour is affordable, a reasonable amount of time and we had a very personable tour guide who lead us through the history of Sun Studio. There's memorabilia, gear, original ceiling tiles and pieces of history left behind for our viewing pleasure. Touch the doorknob Johnny Cash touched, see Elvis' high school diploma, and listen to some of the hits created in this very space! I highly suggest taking in this rock and roll history stroll. Now I not only think about Jerry Lee cruising by but I remember seeing his cigar burn mark on the keys of the piano sitting in the studio... read more

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It was good experience to see the history and be in a space were creativity was birthed. If you've never been i suggest you book a visit or tour read more

So worth a visit here. A national historic landmark. It's worth it just to be able to hold the same microphone that Elvis and so many legends have recorded with. The recording studio is still in use and it's so authentic. And you can touch things. The museum guide was great, knew all the history and had some great stories, and he was very enthusiastic. This place is a rock and roll institution and I really enjoyed the visit much more than the RCA studios in Nashville. You can actually feel and see everything, unlike the RCA tour where it feels more like a shell, and this studio is still In use and a living museum. Definitely visit this place if you have a chance on your trip to Memphis. It's within walking distance from downtown if you have the energy. They also have cool T-shirts for sale. read more

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One of the two places I wanted to visit on my trip to Memphis was "Graceland". The other was one that I had a LOT of interest in. This is none other than the famous "Sun Studio", located at 706 Union St. in Memphis, TN. I had the honor of squeezing time into my busy schedule during the afternoon of Saturday 9/25/2021 at around 3:00pm to visit this historic building that is still standing to this day. The building itself is free to the public which offers a ton of collectibles and memorabilia including mugs, glasses, t-shirts, and other souvenirs to take home. There is also a small bar area just in case you wanted to grab a beer before the actual tour. Now to tour the actual recording studio where the musicians actually recorded their hit songs, this requires purchasing a ticket. Luckily I was able to buy a ticket for their 3:40pm tour (which are on a first come, first served basis). The price for a guided tour was a very fair and affordable $15 (as of September 2021). During my wait, I was able to converse with some of the employees working there as they gave me advice on best BBQ, best local bars, and best hidden gems. That definitely helped me out a lot! Once the tour began, a really informative and enthusiastic gentleman took us upstairs where we got to see an actual DJ booth; WHBQ Radio, actual guitars used, and a reel-to-reel tape machine that was used frequently in the 1950's. For those history buffs, I learned that Sun Studio was built and founded in 1950 by radio engineer Sam Phillips with his assistant, friend, and secretary Marion Keisker. The real fun began is when we went back downstairs to the basement to where all of the musical magic truly happened. This studio (which is ground level to Union Street) is home to where the Million Dollar Quartet began; this is none other than rock-n-roll pioneers Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and the King himself, Elvis Presley all got their rise to fame. At the time, this was unheard of by mixing blues, country, and rockabilly which all coined the term, "rock-n-roll". Inside this studio, this is where Elvis Presley recorded his first big hit, "That's All Right Mama". There was also a piano used by Jerry Lee Lewis (where he recorded "Great Balls of Fire"), a guitar used by Johnny Cash, and in Sun Studio's later years, a drum set used by the band U2 for their "Rattle & Hum" album in 1988. Towards the end of this tour, I got to learn that the actual microphone that Elvis Presley used was still part of this studio and I had the honor and privilege of holding that same microphone. The amount of history and knowledge I gained on this amazing musical tour was absolutely priceless. For those music fanatics that really want to know an insight of where rock-n-roll originated from, do yourself a visit this place! My rating for "Sun Studio", a perfect five stars. read more

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During our 24 hour stint in Memphis, I really, really wanted to visit Sun Studio, I was afraid it would be too full for a holiday weekend and with the fact that you could only buy tickets the day of. Thankfully, it was actually pretty easy to get our tickets for our tour time an hour later. You wouldn't think there would be so much history behind this small building, but it's amazing how this place has practically built the structure of music that we have today. The beginning of the tour was a mini-museum with some neat things to check out, and the second half was where we got to see the actual recording studio itself, that is still functioning to this day! Our tour guide was awesome - You could tell he was so passionate about his job and it made the tour more enjoyable. It felt crazy to stand in the room where the Million Dollar Quartet was formed, and where big names like Elivs Presley and Johnny Cash recorded. This is truly a must-do when in Memphis, so make sure to add it to the top of your list! read more

Good history if you're into that. Small but intimate and rich history. Where it all started. The long haired tour guide loves his job! And that makes it better read more

Sun Studio - Exterior - Museums Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This is a very small museum based off a very small record company whose claim to fame was hosting the King, Elvis Presley and the Million Dollar Quartet (Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash). It is a very small museum and offers 45 minute guided tours. You can also rent the space out. Tours begin at the bottom of every hour that they are open and it is first come first served. There is a free private parking lot located behind the building. Many people have recommend to not venture off in this area at night due to high crime. The Studio claims to be known worldwide as "The Birthplace of Rock n roll". It takes credit for the discovery of legendary acts including B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. The museum is heavy on the Elvis exhibits and memorabilia. They also have exhibits for other Sun Studio artist. There is also studio/artist memorabilia, you get to learn the studio's history and you can hear some unreleased tracks. Your tour ends in the actual studio, where the magic happened. Our tour guide was great and let us touch a microphone that they claimed was used by Elvis. I will admit, it was not one of the best museums that I had visited in Memphis, but it is still a good time and I am glad that I came. read more

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This is definitely worth a visit for anyone with even the slightest interest in music and its historical underpinnings. I recommend taking the guided tour. read more

Sun Studio - You might describe Sun Studio as magnetic. ;-) - Museums Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

So cool! Little spot with a lot of history. Sun Studios is a quaint recording studio in Memphis that discovered Elvis. And, musicians can still record there today! Definitely take the tour (my tour guide was great) and hear some great tales and music. If you're looking for some Memphis history and Elvis stories, this is the place to check out! read more

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In my three days in Memphis, I really enjoyed my time here at Sun Studios. The set up is a guided tour by a man who is both a passionate musician and lover of music history. The tour is relatively short, maybe an hour but the information provided about the famous recordings made here was priceless. They sell plenty of cool souvenirs. If you're an Elvis fan, you will appreciate standing in the very spot where he recorded his first hit song "That's All Right." I was more interested in other artists who had recorded here like Johnny Cash and U2 to name a few. Definitely worth checking out. Had a great time here. read more

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OH EM GEE!!! There is not enough characters for me to type to express my passion for this place!! I have grown up listening to ((all sorts )) of music and raised my kiddos to appreciate music!! This very visit of ours last June in 2022 was the exact "something" our trip to Memphis needed, along with the Civil Rights Museum... and some restaurants. We had a memorable time while being retrograded back into the past with an awesome tour guide. He definitely knew his music stuff, he is a music artist too. So the more experience and stories from the locals, makes these very visits enchanting!! read more

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Wanna visit the birthplace of Rock n Roll for $15? Wanna see where Elvis, Johnny Cash and dozens more recorded some of the most timeless music ever? Stand where the greats did and really appreciate a piece of living history. read more

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OMG! There is something spiritual about this place! Highly recommend! It's not too expensive, and the history that was birthed here, mind blowing. I AM a musician so maybe I am bias, but 2-3 times I almost cried from emotions. There is a spirit here that speaks truth. read more

Loved the tour where you learn aboutthe history of the studios. We had an energetic tour guide. Great gift shop as well.

I loved my experience at Sun Studio. Our tour guide was the best. He was super enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He made the experience amazing. It was so amazing to stand in the same studio that so many greats have recorded. If you have a limited amount of time in Memphis please make sure to make time to go. You won't regret it. read more

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The location itself was bursting with amazing, mind-blowing musical history. Our tour guide, Drew, was incredibly knowledgeable & entertaining. Anyone taking a trip to Memphis should definitely put Sun Studio on their Must-See List. read more

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One of my favorite experiences while visiting Memphis . The tour was interesting and our guide was really good

Fascinating look into the start of rock n roll with an amazing docent who was incredibly knowledgeable. read more

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We went on a studio tour with our guide Hurley. He was so knowledgeable about the music and musicians, and his enthusiasm was infectious. We loved the memorabilia and how clips of music were incorporated. We spent about an hour and a half here and left singing the music of Memphis. Great tour. Thanks again Hurley! read more

Amazing tour (thanks Drew!). Learned lots and it was so cool to be "in the room where it happened." read more

Sun Studio - Museums Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Graham presented a wonderful recollection of many musical memories from my youth! Listening to such great artists and seeing the recording studio was super great! Recommend to ever who loved the 50s and 60s music!! read more

Our bus trip from Indianapolis, IN just left there. The gal Liz, who gave us a tour of Sun Studios was fabulous. Liz was so informative and new so much for as young as she is. If you are wanting something to do in Memphis where Elvis got his start, I highly recommend! read more

For any music lover like myself I was so excited to visit Sun Studio. It was one of my main reasons for coming to Memphis! I did the Sun Studio tour which is about an hour. The tour starts upstairs where we are given a brief history of music with artifacts and of course a replica of the original radio studio. Downstairs is where history was made. The whole feel of the studio is open and warm and to be in a room where legends once were was unbelievable. read more

It's a must see if you are in Memphis. Tours every half hour most interesting history. It's not far from downtown . I have been there at least twice . Not expensive definitely worth the time. Many one of a kind shirts and other souvenirs. It's the real history of Music City read more

I loved this place!! I'm terrible and have taken too long to write this and have since forgotten the name of my tour guide. She rocked and deserves the credit. I was so glad I had a little cash to tip her at the end. Keep that in mind! She totally made the tour! The place is small, but with the guided tour I never felt cramped or like I couldn't see anything that was being discussed. I learned so much more than I intended and to hear that I was standing where so many great artists have stood was pretty thrilling! I'd recommend this to anyone looking for something unique to do in Memphis. read more

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If you're catching a ride from the shuttle, ask the driver to call and reserve your tickets. Ours didn't and we almost missed the tour. Luckily the lady allowed us to go through anyways. The guy that did our tour found his calling for sure. He's hilarious, personable and very knowledgeable. You won't be disappointed. I didn't know much about this studio until I watched the awesome yet short lived show called Sun Records. I then researched the studio and was so excited when I had the opportunity to go see it for myself. There's so much to see here! If you think you've heard and seen it all at Graceland so you're thinking of just skipping this tour, don't. I get that Elvis is great but there are so many others that are amazing as well and this place gives you information about all of them. Big Johnny Cash fan here!!! I love that there were plenty of shirts available for sale. They weren't overpriced, there were plenty of sizes and selection to choose from and the quality seems pretty great. Unlike the wayyyyy overpriced items at Graceland. read more

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We always enjoy visiting Sun Studio and taking the tour. This is one of the iconic places where the "Memphis sound" began, and is a must-see for your visit here. Parking is in the back. You can purchase a tour voucher online, but must be on-site to get your name onto a tour list. During busy times, there may be a wait, but there are a few things nearby (walking distance) to occupy your time. read more

Sun Studio - Gift shop - Museums Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

OMG, when visiting Memphis, Sun Studios is a must see! The people are friendly and welcoming! They also have great souvenirs! read more

Sun Studio - Museums Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Still cannot get over how emotional this experience was! To stand where so many have stood before, thank you so Much to everyone who has kept this piece of history alive! Every employee was so friendly and knowledgeable, plus they had the best coffee I had in Memphis (bonus) Can't wait to come back! read more